US4841499A — Multi-disc player

Claim 1

Independent Claim 110 words

A disc selection device in a multi-disc player, comprising: a magazine adapted to accommodate a plurality of discs therein; a holder for receiving said magazine in a magazine inserting direction and for holding said magazine; slide plates provided at both sides of said holder, said slide plates being formed with cam surfaces for moving said holder in a vertical direction which direction is perpendicular to the magazine inserting direction, said slide plates being also formed with racks; left and right gears engageable with said racks for driving said slide plates; and a shaft for connecting together said left and right gears to drive said slide plates in a same direction.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 110 words

A disc selection device in a multi-disc player, comprising: a magazine adapted to accommodate a plurality of discs therein; a holder for receiving said magazine in a magazine inserting direction and for holding said magazine; slide plates provided at both sides of said holder, said slide plates being formed with cam surfaces for moving said holder in a vertical direction which direction is perpendicular to the magazine inserting direction, said slide plates being also formed with racks; left and right gears engageable with said racks for driving said slide plates; and a shaft for connecting together said left and right gears to drive said slide plates in a same direction.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 18 words

A disc selection device as recited in claim 1, wherein both said gears are mounted on said shaft.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 37 words

A disc selection device as recited in claim 1, wherein said racks are formed on said slide plates substantially in a common plane and said shaft extends parallel to said common plane and mounts both said gears.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 125 words

A disc existence acknowledgement device in a multi-disc player comprising: a magazine adapted to accommodate a plurality of disc therein; a transferring means which selects one of the discs in said magazine and transfer the selected disc to a playing position in a player; a guide member disposed at a disc path between said magazine and said player by the operation of said transferring means, said guide member restricting movement of said disc in a thickness direction thereof and guiding a moving of said disc along said disc path; and detection means provided at a position along said guide member for optically detecting passing of said disc toward said playing position along said disc path prior to arrival of said disc at said playing position.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 125 words

A disc existence acknowledgement device in a multi-disc player comprising: a magazine adapted to accommodate a plurality of disc therein; a transferring means which selects one of the discs in said magazine and transfer the selected disc to a playing position in a player; a guide member disposed at a disc path between said magazine and said player by the operation of said transferring means, said guide member restricting movement of said disc in a thickness direction thereof and guiding a moving of said disc along said disc path; and detection means provided at a position along said guide member for optically detecting passing of said disc toward said playing position along said disc path prior to arrival of said disc at said playing position.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 99 words

A carriage supporting apparatus in a disc player, comprising: a carriage plate; a holder for supporting the carriage plate; a first damper portion provided at one of said carriage plate and said holder, said first damper portion having an annular surface and a plurality of annular pleat-like projections formed on the annular surface; a second damper portion provided at a remaining one of said holder and said carriage and having an annular portion which confronts, across space, said pleat-like projections of said first damper portion; and a cup-shaped thin wall portion disposed between said first and second damper portions.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 99 words

A carriage supporting apparatus in a disc player, comprising: a carriage plate; a holder for supporting the carriage plate; a first damper portion provided at one of said carriage plate and said holder, said first damper portion having an annular surface and a plurality of annular pleat-like projections formed on the annular surface; a second damper portion provided at a remaining one of said holder and said carriage and having an annular portion which confronts, across space, said pleat-like projections of said first damper portion; and a cup-shaped thin wall portion disposed between said first and second damper portions.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 16 words

A carriage supporting apparatus as recited in claim 5, wherein said space is vented to air.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 34 words

A carriage supporting apparatus as recited in claim 6, wherein said carriage plate is formed with an aperture for receiving said first and second damper portions at ends thereof opposite said thin wall portions.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 80 words

A pick-up driving device in a disc player comprising: a pick-up member movable on a carriage plate, said pick-up member being guided by a guide member; a feed screw member formed with a thread having triangular cross-section for moving the pick-up member; and a rack having a contact surface in contact with said feed screw and provided in said pick-up member, said rack contact surface being inclined with respect to a surface of said disc and a plane perpendicular thereto.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 80 words

A pick-up driving device in a disc player comprising: a pick-up member movable on a carriage plate, said pick-up member being guided by a guide member; a feed screw member formed with a thread having triangular cross-section for moving the pick-up member; and a rack having a contact surface in contact with said feed screw and provided in said pick-up member, said rack contact surface being inclined with respect to a surface of said disc and a plane perpendicular thereto.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 90 words

A pick-up driving mechanism in a disc-player comprising: a pick-up member movable on a carriage plate by a guidance by a guide member; a feed screw member for moving said pick-up member; a rack member having a substantially planar toothed rack surface rotatably supported by said pick-up member in a direction perpendicular to said feed screw member, said rack member being in meshing engagement with said feed screw member; and a biasing member having one end mounted on said pick-up member for urging said rack toward said feed screw member.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 90 words

A pick-up driving mechanism in a disc-player comprising: a pick-up member movable on a carriage plate by a guidance by a guide member; a feed screw member for moving said pick-up member; a rack member having a substantially planar toothed rack surface rotatably supported by said pick-up member in a direction perpendicular to said feed screw member, said rack member being in meshing engagement with said feed screw member; and a biasing member having one end mounted on said pick-up member for urging said rack toward said feed screw member.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 85 words

A disc clamp apparatus in a disc player including a clamper and a spindle table for clamping a disc therebetween characterized by; said clamper and said spindle table having surfaces confronting with each other, and each of said confronting surfaces being formed with tapered protrusions having an external dimension approximately equal to diameter of a clamp hole formed in said disc, and each of said confronting surfaces being also formed with recesses into which said protrusions of the other of said confronting surfaces are inserted.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 85 words

A disc clamp apparatus in a disc player including a clamper and a spindle table for clamping a disc therebetween characterized by; said clamper and said spindle table having surfaces confronting with each other, and each of said confronting surfaces being formed with tapered protrusions having an external dimension approximately equal to diameter of a clamp hole formed in said disc, and each of said confronting surfaces being also formed with recesses into which said protrusions of the other of said confronting surfaces are inserted.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 119 words

A disc clamp apparatus as recited in claim 10, further comprising: a movable disc mount plate for carrying said disc and being movable to a first position intermediate said clamper and said spindle table; means for moving said clamper to a second position wherein said protrusions of at least one of said confronting surfaces penetrate said clamp hole of said disc while said disc mount plate at said first position continues to carry said disc, the protrusions of said spindle table and said damper at said second position being separated by a distance less than a thickness of said disc; and means for further moving said clamper from said second position to a third position engaging said spindle table.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1992-06-19	1992-12-19	1993-06-20	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1996-06-19	1996-12-19	1997-06-20	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2000-06-19	2000-12-19	2001-06-20	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Multi-disc player

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